How Radiant Heating Can Lower Energy Costs

Benefit of In-Floor Radiant Heating

Heatizon
www.heatizon.com

Radiant heat systems often cost more to install initially than forced-air systems, but they also run more economically and retain heat better, say proponents. The cost savings will depend on the region where you live, the severity of the winters, how well insulated your home is, the fuel source and the layout of the system. According to the Radiant Panel Association, most homeowners can accrue energy savings of 10% to 30%; for commercial installations, savings of up to 60% or greater are possible.

Other ways concrete in-floor radiant heating saves energy:

  • Studies conducted by the American Society of Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) indicate that with radiant heating systems people can be comfortable at temperatures 6 to 8 degrees F lower than with convective systems that use air as the primary heat-transfer medium, such as forced-air and baseboard heat.
  • According to the Hydronic Heating Association, a given volume of water can hold almost 3,500 times as much heat as the same volume of air for the same temperature rise. This means you can operate a hydronic radiant system at a lower thermostat setting than a forced-air system, resulting in lower energy bills. To equal the amount of heat that could be carried by water running through 1-inch-diameter hydronic tubing, you would need a 10 x 18-inch duct for forced-air heat.
  • To optimize energy-efficiency, radiant heating systems can work in zones, allowing you to heat different areas of a home at different temperatures. This lets you direct more heat to typically chilly rooms or high-use areas, such as bathrooms, bedrooms, basements and entryways, while lowering the thermostat in rooms with less traffic, such as a formal dining room.
  • With an electric radiant floor system, you can save operating costs by taking advantage of lower rates for off-peak usage, if your electric utility company offers them. Here's how: Heat up your concrete floor during off-peak hours (typically at night) and then turn the heat off during the day. Once a concrete floor warms up, it will retain the heat and release it gradually, even if you shut off the system or the power goes out. The retained heat can keep your house comfortable for hours.
Video: Radiant Floor Heating

Watch an overview of the benefits of installing a radiant floor heating system in concrete floors. — Length: 01:04

It's important to note that while thick concrete slabs have a high heat storage capacity, they also have a slow thermal response time, which means they can take many hours to heat up if the floor is allowed to cool down. Because of this, you are limited in how long you can set back or turn off the system to save operating costs. Most experts recommend maintaining a constant temperature. For concrete slabs-on-grade, there's also the potential for heat loss into the ground without adequate insulation under the slab, such as 2 inches or more of high-density expanded polystyrene.

Return to Radiant Floor Heating

Design Ideas
Radiant - Photo GalleryPhoto Gallery: Interior Floors
Radiant - Design IdeasOutrageous Floor Projects
Radiant - Catalogs - FloorsFree E-Book: Ideas for Interior Floors
Radiant - Concrete-Floors.orgLearn about Concrete Floors
Find Products
Radiant - Find Concrete ProductsConcrete Products
Other Resources
Radiant - Hiring a Contractor8 Tips for Hiring a Contractor
Radiant Flooring Videos
Radiant - Videos - Saving EnergySaving Energy with Radiant Floor Heating